Idolator

W Hotels, the cutting-edge-in-1998 Starwood chain that I commonly think of as "the Cheesecake Factory of overnight options," has launched a concert series in conjunction with Sony BMG. Those who took the plunge of charging $429 to their MasterCard—the card company is an official sponsor as well—for a reservation on Tuesday night at the hotel chain's Westwood oupost received, in addition to their "Fabulous Suite," two free drinks, two tickets to an on-site concert by Paddy Casey (who, the hotel notes, is "backed by U2's management team"), and a 3 p.m. checkout. No word on how many people actually turned out, but it sounds to me like W is trying to recreate Social@Ross, except at a fraction of the cost and with much less starpower! And I bet the drinks were well drinks, too. [W Hotels via Songs For Soap]